"Top Leaders in Civilization 7 Ranked"

In *Civilization 7*, the introduction of the Ages mechanic revolutionizes gameplay, allowing you to transition through different eras—Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern Ages—while keeping your chosen leader constant throughout your journey. Leaders in *Civilization 7* may not offer as extensive a range of traits and units as civilizations, but their unique abilities can be strategically combined to enhance your empire's performance. To guide you in selecting the most effective leader for your gameplay, we've compiled a comprehensive tier list that evaluates each leader's strengths and weaknesses based on their abilities in a standard, single-player game. This list does not consider synergies with civilizations or include multiplayer dynamics and excludes DLC Leaders like Ada Lovelace and Simón Bolívar.

Civilization 7 Leader Tier List

S-Tier - Confucius, Xerxes King of Kings, Ashoka World Conquerer, Augustus

A-Tier - Ashoka World Renouncer, Benjamin Franklin, Charlemagne, Harriet Tubman, Hatshepsut, Himiko High Shaman, Isabella, Jose Rizal, Machiavelli, Trung Trac, Xerxes The Achaemenid

B-Tier - Amina, Catherine The Great, Friedrich Oblique, Ibn Battuta, Lafayette, Napoleon Emperor, Napoleon Revolution, Tecumseh, Himiko Queen of Wa

C-Tier - Friedrich Baroque, Pachacuti

S-Tier Leaders

S-Tier: Ashoka, World Conquerer

Ashoka, World Conquerer, excels at maintaining high Happiness levels in your cities while simultaneously exerting military pressure on other civilizations. With a +1 Production bonus for every 5 excess Happiness and a 10% Production boost in Settlements not founded by you, Ashoka can significantly enhance your unit production. Moreover, declaring a Formal War grants a Celebration, boosting all your units with a +5 Combat Strength against enemy Districts. This combination of happiness management and military prowess makes Ashoka one of the most formidable leaders in the game, especially if you can navigate the unrest from captured settlements effectively.

S-Tier: Augustus

Augustus thrives on expanding your empire through settlements and towns. His ability to gain +2 Production in the Capital for every Town and purchase Culture Buildings in Towns at a 50% Gold discount encourages a wide, town-focused strategy. By maintaining Towns rather than upgrading them to Cities, Augustus maximizes both Production and Gold efficiency, turning your Capital into a powerhouse. His straightforward yet effective strategy makes him a top-tier choice for those aiming for a broad empire with strong economic foundations.

S-Tier: Confucius

Confucius is the master of city expansion, offering a 25% Growth Rate increase in Cities and +2 Science from Specialists. This early advantage in land acquisition and technological advancement allows you to outpace your rivals in both territory and technology. Confucius's focus on growth and science positions him as a top choice for players aiming for a peaceful expansion and technological supremacy, though he may require strategic alliances for military defense.

S-Tier: Xerxes, King of Kings

Xerxes, King of Kings, is the epitome of military aggression, offering +3 Combat Strength for units attacking in neutral or enemy territory. Capturing a Settlement for the first time rewards 100 Culture and Gold per Age, and a +10% Gold bonus in all Settlements, particularly those not founded by you, fuels further conquests. With an additional Settlement limit per Age, Xerxes is tailored for those seeking a Military Victory, relentlessly expanding through conquest.

A-Tier Leaders

A-Tier: Ashoka, World Renouncer

Ashoka, World Renouncer, focuses on converting excess Happiness into Food, granting +1 Food in Cities for every 5 excess Happiness and a 10% Food boost during Celebrations. Additionally, all buildings gain a +1 Happiness adjacency for Improvements, promoting a strategy centered on population growth and city development. While less aggressive than the World Conquerer version, the World Renouncer can be equally powerful in skilled hands, particularly for those who excel at managing large populations and urban expansion.

A-Tier: Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin is ideal for a science-focused strategy, with abilities that enhance both Science and Production. Gaining +1 Science per Age on Production Buildings and a 50% Production boost towards constructing them creates a powerful feedback loop. Additionally, Franklin's ability to engage in multiple Endeavors of the same type simultaneously amplifies his Science generation, making him a versatile leader for technological advancement.

A-Tier: Charlemagne

Charlemagne blends military and scientific prowess, benefiting from Happiness adjacency bonuses for Military and Science Buildings. Entering a Celebration grants two free Cavalry Units and a +5 Combat Strength boost for Cavalry, encouraging a strategy focused on early and mid-game cavalry dominance. While his effectiveness may wane in the Modern Age, Charlemagne's early game strength can set a strong foundation for your empire.

A-Tier: Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman's stealthy approach leverages Influence for espionage, with a 100% boost towards initiating Espionage Actions. Gaining 5 War Support when wars are declared against you and the ability to ignore movement penalties from Vegetation make her a challenging opponent to pin down. Tubman's focus on influence and mobility makes her an excellent choice for players who enjoy a more covert strategy.

A-Tier: Hatshepsut

Hatshepsut excels in Culture production, gaining +1 Culture for every imported Resource and a 15% Production boost towards constructing Buildings and Wonders near Navigable Rivers. Her strategy revolves around establishing strong trade relationships and maximizing the cultural benefits of these connections, making her a strong contender for early Culture Legacy Paths.

A-Tier: Himiko, High Shaman

Himiko, High Shaman, is a powerhouse of Culture and Happiness, with a 50% Production boost towards constructing Happiness Buildings and a +20% Culture increase, doubled during Celebrations. Though she faces a -10% Science penalty, which also doubles during Celebrations, her cultural potential far outweighs this drawback, making her ideal for cultural-focused strategies.

A-Tier: Isabella

Isabella's strategy hinges on discovering and utilizing Natural Wonders, gaining 300 Gold and doubled tile yields from them. Her ability to purchase Naval Units at a 50% Gold discount and reduce their maintenance cost makes her a strong naval power, particularly if she secures Natural Wonders early in the game.

A-Tier: Jose Rizal

Jose Rizal capitalizes on Celebrations, extending their duration by 50% and enhancing Happiness towards them by the same amount. Gaining additional Culture and Gold from Narrative Events, which occur more frequently for him, supports a culture-centric strategy. Rizal's strengths lie in leveraging the power of Celebrations for significant gains.

A-Tier: Machiavelli

Machiavelli thrives on diplomatic manipulation, gaining Influence and Gold from Diplomatic Actions and ignoring relationship requirements for declaring Formal Wars. His ability to levy military units from City-States he isn't Suzerain of adds a layer of strategic depth, making him ideal for players who enjoy a cunning and flexible approach to diplomacy and warfare.

A-Tier: Trung Trac

Trung Trac specializes in Army Commanders, starting with three free levels and a 20% experience boost. Her +10% Science bonus in Tropical Spaces, doubled during wars she declares, supports a powerful Science and Military strategy. Trung Trac's effectiveness is contingent on access to Tropical Spaces, making her a situational but potentially very strong choice.

A-Tier: Xerxes, The Achaemenid

Xerxes, The Achaemenid, focuses on economic and cultural growth through Trade Routes and Roads, gaining 50 Culture and 100 Gold per Age for each created. With an additional Trade Route limit per leader and bonuses to Unique Buildings and Improvements, Xerxes excels at building a prosperous and culturally rich empire.

B-Tier Leaders

B-Tier: Amina

Amina's strengths lie in resource management, with a +1 Resource Capacity in Cities and +1 Gold per Age for each Resource assigned. Her units gain +5 Combat Strength in Plains or Desert, making her a situational choice that can be powerful with the right map conditions and resource focus.

B-Tier: Catherine the Great

Catherine the Great is a solid Culture producer, gaining +2 Culture per Age from displayed Great Works and additional slots for them. Her ability to gain Science from cities settled in Tundra makes her a versatile leader, though she can be challenging to utilize without access to Tundra.

B-Tier: Friedrich, Oblique

Friedrich, Oblique, enhances Army Commanders with the Merit Commendation and gains Infantry Units from Science Buildings. While lacking direct boosts to Science, Influence, or Culture, his focus on military enhancements can be beneficial for players focusing on early military strength.

B-Tier: Ibn Battuta

Ibn Battuta offers flexibility with 2 Wildcard Attribute Points after the first Civic in every Age and enhanced visibility through Trade Maps. His versatility requires a nuanced understanding of Attribute Points and strategic map usage, making him a complex but potentially rewarding choice.

B-Tier: Lafayette

Lafayette's unique Endeavor, Reform, grants additional Social Policy slots, while his +1 Combat Strength from Traditions and unconditional Culture and Happiness boosts in Settlements make him a well-rounded leader. Though not as specialized as others, his balanced traits can provide consistent value.

B-Tier: Napoleon, Emperor

Napoleon, Emperor, leverages hostility for economic gain, gaining +8 Gold per Age for every unfriendly or hostile leader and using the Continental System Sanction to disrupt trade. His trollish playstyle requires careful management of relationships and a strong military to handle potential backlash.

B-Tier: Napoleon, Revolutionary

Napoleon, Revolutionary, enhances land unit mobility and gains Culture from defending enemy units. His unique playstyle involves provoking enemies while holding ground, making him an unconventional but potentially powerful choice for players who can master this strategy.

B-Tier: Tecumseh

Tecumseh's strength lies in becoming the Suzerain of City-States, gaining significant bonuses to Food, Production, and Combat Strength. His potential is high, but achieving Suzerain status requires time and strategic investment, making him a long-term play.

B-Tier: Himiko, Queen of Wa

Himiko, Queen of Wa, thrives on positive relationships, gaining Science from friendly and helpful leaders and benefiting from the Friend of Wei Endeavor. Her focus on diplomacy and science makes her a strong choice for players who can maintain good relations, though she must balance this with military considerations.

C-Tier Leaders

C-Tier: Friedrich, Baroque

Friedrich, Baroque, offers a Great Work upon capturing a Settlement and an Infantry Unit from constructing a Culture Building. While these traits are useful, they lack the strength and distinctiveness of higher-tier leaders, making him a less competitive choice.

C-Tier: Pachacuti

Pachacuti's effectiveness is highly dependent on the presence of Mountains, offering Food adjacency bonuses and reduced Happiness maintenance for Specialists near them. Without access to Mountains, his contributions are minimal, making him a risky choice without map manipulation.

This tier list should assist you in selecting a leader that aligns with your preferred strategy and gameplay style, helping you build a prosperous empire through the Ages of Civilization 7.